Jason Wittenberg

Jason Wittenberg @jasonwittenberg.bsky.social [ View ] Jul 04, 2024 at 17:28 UTC

Pretenders will probably have the shortest length of time between a show in a 250-person Minnesota venue and a 40,000+ Minnesota venue. Less than one year: 9-7-23, Entry 7-28-24, Target Field

0 replies 0 reposts 1 likes

Jason Wittenberg @jasonwittenberg.bsky.social [ View ] Jul 04, 2024 at 17:25 UTC

Tough to top the Green Day example, especially excluding MN-raised artists who played in local basements. Pretenders and L7 open for Foo Fighters later this month at Target Field. Both have played the 7th St Entry.

1 replies 0 reposts 0 likes

Jason Wittenberg @jasonwittenberg.bsky.social [ View ] Jul 03, 2024 at 20:16 UTC

Second, it’s known that “Zen Arcade” was released on the same day SST released Minutemen's “Double Nickels on the Dime." Some sources suggest that Double Nickels was released on the 3rd, which was a Tuesday, a common record release day. (8/8)

1 replies 0 reposts 5 likes

Jason Wittenberg @jasonwittenberg.bsky.social [ View ] Jul 03, 2024 at 20:16 UTC

July 3rd is most likely the anniversary of the release. While some sources suggested the anniversary was July 1st, the extremely resourceful @chrissteller.bsky.social notes a couple of reasons why that's unlikely. First, July 1st was a Sunday. Records aren’t typically released on a Sunday. (7/8)

1 replies 1 reposts 4 likes

Jason Wittenberg @jasonwittenberg.bsky.social [ View ] Jul 03, 2024 at 20:16 UTC

Minneapolis-Paul magazine recently featured an article about how Minnesota was at the center of pop culture in 1984. Zen Arcade was mentioned as one piece of that. Minnesota was immersed in Purple Rain. Let It Be arrived later that year. mspmag.com/arts-and-culture/the-best-of-1984/ (6/8)

1 replies 0 reposts 3 likes

Jason Wittenberg @jasonwittenberg.bsky.social [ View ] Jul 03, 2024 at 20:16 UTC

Zen Arcade: July '84. New Day Rising - Jan. '85. Flip Your Wig - Sept. '85. Incredible. I’d attend my first Hüsker Dü show less than two years after Zen Arcade was released, in March of '86. The same month that Candy Apple Grey hit record stores. (5/8)

1 replies 0 reposts 2 likes

Jason Wittenberg @jasonwittenberg.bsky.social [ View ] Jul 03, 2024 at 20:16 UTC

First takes were used for all but two songs of the double LP. I stopped by Total Access in 2021 and took this photo. They were a rapidly evolving band, releasing new music at an incredible rate. Metal Circus came out around the time they were recording Zen Arcade. Then... (4/8)

1 replies 0 reposts 4 likes

Jason Wittenberg @jasonwittenberg.bsky.social [ View ] Jul 03, 2024 at 20:16 UTC

They were telling people that this release was going to be big—and different. www.thirdav.com/hd_images/msp_sites/church.html

Recorded at Total Access in Redondo Beach, California, in October of 1983. Engineered by Spot. (3/8)

1 replies 0 reposts 1 likes

Jason Wittenberg @jasonwittenberg.bsky.social [ View ] Jul 03, 2024 at 20:16 UTC

The colors. The gatefold package with heavy cardstock. The liner notes. The style of the hand-printed lyrics. All of it. The band was aiming high, working on the songs in a former church building at E 5th St and Mendota St on St. Paul’s East Side. (2/8)

1 replies 0 reposts 4 likes

Jason Wittenberg @jasonwittenberg.bsky.social [ View ] Jul 03, 2024 at 20:16 UTC

Hüsker Dü’s “Zen Arcade” was released 40 years ago. It was a massive accomplishment. Occasionally a record is released that's completely unlike anything that came before it. This is one of those records. Iconic in so many ways. The cover photo, creatively refined by Grant Hart. (1/8)

1 replies 9 reposts 28 likes

Jason Wittenberg @jasonwittenberg.bsky.social [ View ] Jun 29, 2024 at 17:45 UTC

Organized by Preserve Minneapolis. www.preserveminneapolis.org/minneapolis-...

0 replies 0 reposts 1 likes

Jason Wittenberg @jasonwittenberg.bsky.social [ View ] Jun 29, 2024 at 17:32 UTC

Not this time!

1 replies 0 reposts 0 likes

Jason Wittenberg @jasonwittenberg.bsky.social [ View ] Jun 29, 2024 at 16:53 UTC

Great morning for the fantastic Nicollet Island - South Tip Walking Tour with @chrissteller.bsky.social

2 replies 2 reposts 12 likes